Non-Delivery Scams on eBay
eBay sellers take payment for items they never ship, using fake tracking, off-platform communication, and feedback manipulation to delay dispute resolution long enough to complete multiple fraud cycles.
Part of: Non-Delivery Scams
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
Non-delivery fraud on eBay is one of the most commonly reported scam types on the platform. While eBay's Money Back Guarantee provides a route to resolution, fraudulent sellers design their operations to delay claims and maximise the number of transactions they can complete before being suspended.
Off-platform payment diversion is a key tactic: by convincing buyers to complete payment outside eBay, sellers remove the transaction from the platform's protection framework entirely.
How this scam works on eBay
A seller lists items — often in high-demand categories such as electronics, gaming, or collectibles — with competitive pricing. Buyers pay through eBay checkout, receive a tracking number, and wait. The tracking number either shows no movement or reflects delivery of a different, usually very light item to a different address.
Some sellers contact buyers via eBay's messaging system before or after payment, offering a discount or follow-up purchase off-platform, where no protection applies. After receiving the off-platform payment, the seller claims the eBay order is separate and handles any eBay claim against the legitimate purchase while retaining the off-platform fraud proceeds.
Feedback-manipulation variants involve sellers who have built high feedback scores through genuine transactions and then switch to non-delivery fraud on high-value listings before abandoning the account.
Common red flags
- Tracking number that shows no genuine dispatch activity or delivery to a different address
- Seller who messages offering to complete a follow-up purchase off eBay
- High feedback score but a sudden cluster of negative feedback from recent buyers
- Item listed significantly below market value in a high-demand category
- Seller who is unresponsive to messages after payment
How to protect yourself
- Only complete payment through eBay's official checkout — never via bank transfer at a seller's request
- Open an eBay case immediately if goods do not arrive within the estimated delivery window
- Track delivery through the courier's official site using the tracking number, not just eBay's tracking page
- Pay by credit card to maintain chargeback rights if eBay's process does not resolve the issue
- Report non-delivering sellers via eBay's 'Report this member' function
How to report it
- Open a case in eBay's Resolution Centre via your order history
- Use 'Report this member' on the seller's profile page
- File a chargeback request with your card issuer if eBay's resolution is unsatisfactory
Frequently asked questions
A seller offered me a discount to buy directly through their own website instead of eBay — is that worth considering to save money?
No — completing payment outside eBay removes your purchase from eBay's Money Back Guarantee entirely, no matter how small the discount seems. Any savings are outweighed by the loss of buyer protection if the seller doesn't deliver.
How do I know if a tracking number on an eBay order is genuinely for my package?
Check the tracking details directly through the courier's own official website using the provided number, and compare the delivery address shown to your actual address. If the tracking shows delivery to a different postcode or an unusually light package weight for what you ordered, raise this as evidence in an eBay case.
How quickly can I open an eBay case for non-delivery?
eBay allows you to open a case once the estimated delivery date has passed, typically at the earliest on the estimated delivery date. eBay then allows a further period for the seller to respond or resolve the issue before escalating to a buyer protection decision. Check your order's estimated delivery window in your order details.